Proud by degrees

Friday

May 29, 2009 at 12:01 AMMay 29, 2009 at 6:30 AM

One of the features that I really enjoy in Webster's New World College Dictionary is what it calls "synonymy." It uses a shaded paragraph at the end of a main word entry to explore the shades of difference between that word and its synonyms.

Here are the distinctions given for "boast," which I wrote about yesterday, and some of its cousins:

"Swagger" -- "suggests a proclaiming of one's superiority in an insolent or overbearing way."

"Crow" -- "suggests loud boasting in exultation or triumph."

Now I feel I should look up "ostentation," "suavity," "vainglory," "insolent" and "exultation," just to be sure. Maybe later.

barry wood

One of the features that I really enjoy in Webster's New World College Dictionary is what it calls "synonymy." It uses a shaded paragraph at the end of a main word entry to explore the shades of difference between that word and its synonyms.

Here are the distinctions given for "boast," which I wrote about yesterday, and some of its cousins: